Around Town
Friday Harbor art students bring home ‘The Gold’ page 10
Island Scene
‘Forgotten Army’ springs to life in Lilies of the Land page 9
Guest Editorial
Twenty-six states have 80 zones where boat discharge is not allowed; Washington is not among them
Journal page 7
The 75¢ Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Vol. 107 Issue 9
of the San Juan Islands
Change of plans at Jeri’s Mall
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Plans for Port rebuild take shape By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
A contract for sale of the 260 Spring Street building to Donald and Penelope Torkington has been “signed both ways,” but won’t close until the new second floor shell is completed sometime in March. Neither Scott Boden, the present owner, nor the Torkingtons would comment on the agreed-upon price, but sources familiar with the transaction confirm that it is in the $2 million range. Boden purchased the building in late 2012 for $877,000, according to county records, and is doubling the size of the building, adding a 5,200 square foot second floor to the building, formerly known as Jeri’s Mall. Boden declined to comment on the cost of the second floor construction, but two local sources familiar with commercial real estate construction thought the $150,000 estimate included in the Friday Harbor permit application was “way too low.” One knowledgeable source believes that adding the second floor to the building might cost about $300,000, not including finishing the inside as a residence, which is what Penelope Torkington has previously said that she intends to do. Current tenants of building have met the new owners, and several say they welcome See Mall, Page 5
Top; Unveiled at a Feb. 6 meeting of the Port of Friday Harbor, this conceptual drawing shows what the Spring Street Landing replacement building now under consideration by the port might look like. Below, Port Commissioner Greg Hertel points out the location of the Spring Street Landing reconstruction project. Journal photos / Steve Wehrly
Week 3: ladies take the lead
See Shape, Page 4
Left; Brenda Schmidt gets a hand with her Wilson Derby leading salmon from fellow fisherwoman and friend Vicki Telfor, who snagged third place in Week 3 of annual fishing competition.
By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor
Move over guys, the ladies have taken the lead. Avid angler Brenda Schmidt of San Juan Island reeled in a 21.33pound salmon to take over the lead in Week 3 of the 10th annual Frank Wilson Memorial Fishing Derby. Her derby-leading catch is about one-pound shy of Geno James’ winning fish of 2012 and gives Schmidt a commanding lead
Port of Friday Harbor Commissioners are knee-deep in numbers and concepts as they figure out the whats, whys and hows of the Spring Street Landing redevelopment project. Pride in the project and Port Commission’s desire for public participation in the decisionmaking process have led to release of more information about the buildings and more images of design and site plans for public perusal. “We want to hear from you,” said Commissioner Greg Hertel, referring to the commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, and to the commission’s desire for input on the project from any source at any time. That meeting, at the Yacht Club, beginning at 4 p.m. has numerous Spring Street Landing items for discussion and action on the agenda. Another public meeting for review of nearfinal drawings is planned for sometime in March, according to the present schedule. All three commissioners confirm a “broadbrush ballpark estimate” of $4 million for construction of buildings to replace the burned out
Contributed photo
with five weeks left in the annual competition. If Schmidt’s lead holds, it appears that she would be the first-ever female to win the Wilson derby. “I hope I can hold onto the lead,” Schmidt said. “It’s exciting,
but you just never know what might happen. But I wouldn’t mind claiming that one (first female derby winner). Along with the top spot on the derby leader-board, Schmidt See lead, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Hot off the press
The 2014 edition of the Book of the San Juan Islands is available at the Chamber of Commerce, various businesses and at the Journal office.